Got reservations? All-electric Nissan Leaf debuts in December

SCOTT GUTIERRE, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

By SCOTT GUTIERREZ, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Published 10:00 pm, Monday, March 8, 2010

A model poses beside the new all-electric "Leaf" car by Japanese carmaker Nissan on March 3, 2010 during the third press day at the 80th Geneva International Motor Show at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo by Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images)
Photo: / Getty Images

In April, Nissan plans to start taking reservations from consumers interested in being first to purchase or lease the Leaf, the first all-electric, zero-emission vehicle designed for the mass market, according to the company.

The Leaf will debut in December along with the largest deployment yet of electric-vehicle charging stations for public use. Seattle is among five test markets getting an early test drive, along with 2,500 plug-in stations as part of The EV Project, a federally-funded study of electric-vehicle infrastructure.

The five-seat Leaf, with its 24-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and top range of 100 miles on a full charge, has grabbed plenty of attention from auto enthusiasts. In the meantime, local planners are selecting sites for charging stations and ironing out technical details to get Seattle plug-in ready.

Nissan has teamed up with Arizona-based Electric Transportation Engineering Company, or eTec (a subsidiary of ECOtality), which was awarded a $99.8 million stimulus grant from the Department of Energy to develop and install the new charging station infrastructure. Together, Nissan and eTec are working with officials in Seattle and Oregon, Arizona, California, and Tennessee, where Nissan's North American headquarters is located.

"This is really a study of what kind of electric vehicle infrastructure is needed. We're using this to find out which charging stations are great locations and which charging stations are not great locations," said Rich Feldman, eTec's Pacific Northwest manager for planning and business development.

"This has worldwide significance in terms of the future of electric transportation," he said.

How do I participate?

You can sign up for more information through Nissan's Web site, www.nissanusa.com, or through The EV Project. Once the reservation process starts in April, consumers can pay a $99 refundable fee to get first priority when the company starts taking orders in August. With the reservation, you'll also get an assessment of your home's electrical readiness and an opportunity to express your interest in joining the study.

About 70,000 people have already registered, said Mark Perry, Nissan North America's director of products and planning. Nissan has committed to sell or lease 900 Leafs for the study, but expects to sell two to three times that many during the first year in Seattle, he said.

How do I benefit from participating in The EV Project?

Those chosen for the study will get a 220-volt charging station installed in their home at no cost. The purpose is so data from the vehicle and charging station can be shared with federal researchers at the Idaho National Laboratory.

How will participants for The EV Project be chosen?

Researchers want data on the distances people drive; when and where they recharge; and how far they let the battery power drop. They need people who plan to drive a lot and who live in qualifying zip codes with homes that meet electrical requirements. The study is not "first-come, first-serve," said Perry, of Nissan. "They (researchers) need a diverse mix. They can't have everybody driving eight miles per day and charging up overnight," Perry said.

Also in the criteria: A home Broadband connection to transmit data and no Big Brother hang-ups about federal researchers studying your driving habits, eTec's Feldman said.

How much will the Nissan Leaf cost?

Nissan isn't yet saying, but an announcement is expected in the next few weeks, prior to when the company starts taking reservations. Perry says the price will be competitive with internal-combustion vehicles of the same size. A sampling of recent media coverage speculates the price will be in the $27,000 to $33,000 range. Whatever the price, consumers will be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit, as well as an exemption from Washington state's sales tax, Feldman said.

Will the battery be leased separately from the vehicle?

Nissan has announced the battery will be included with the vehicle in a single transaction, whether leased or sold. There was talk that Nissan would lease the battery separately to keep the sticker price down, but that issue has been resolved.

How many charging stations will be installed in Seattle?

Each test market is getting 2,500 charging stations, including 1,500 public-use stations. The plan is to start installing them this fall and building out the public infrastructure as December approaches. The plan is to have the full network up and running within a year, Feldman said. Officials from Seattle, King County and other regional partners, who also got grant money to build charging stations, are working with the companies to select sites and hammer out challenges.

Most of the charging stations, including the home variety, will be a Level 2, 220-volt station that takes about 8 hours to fully recharge the vehicle (similar to the electrical circuit for your dryer). They'll also be installed at malls, parking garages, coffee shops and destinations where people are expected to stay a few hours, Feldman said. Businesses interested in having charging stations installed are encouraged to contact project planners. For more information, visit www.theevproject.com

There also will be about 25 sites with fast-charging 480-volt stations, which take 26 minutes to revive the battery to 80 percent capacity. These stations will be ideal for drivers who need to pull in for a quick emergency boost and will be installed along the Interstate 5 corridor, Feldman said. Rates or payment methods for public stations haven't yet been announced.

What if I live in an apartment or townhome that doesn't have off-street parking?

Feldman says it wouldn't be impossible to join the study, since researchers want a wide array of data. But "garage orphans" wouldn't be eligible for the complimetary charging station. "In terms of participation in The EV Project, we will be pretty focused on people with off-street parking where we can establish home charging stations," he said.

How would an electric car affect my electricity bill?

Planners figure that most charging will happen at home. Under current City Light residential rates, the Leaf would cost about $190 to drive 10,000 miles, or less than 2 cents per mile, according to Seattle's Office of Sustainability and Environment. To drive the same distance in a car that gets 25 mpg, the same distance would cost about $1,200 at $3 per gallon.

How many jobs is the project expected to support?

About 750 new jobs will be created by the three-year project by 2012, with the expectation to support 5,500 new jobs by 2017.